PREVALENCE OF CELIAC-DISEASE IN DIABETIC CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Background: Celiac disease is more common ill patients with insulin de pendent diabetes than ill the general population. Aim: To detect celia c disease ir? diabetic children and adolescents. Patients and methods: IgA antigliadin, Ige antireticulin and IgG antiendomysium antibodies were measured ill 67 diabetic children (35 female), aged between ri an d 18 years old. Results: Only orle male adolescent, aged IS years old without gastrointestinal symptoms, had a significant elevation antiret iculin and antiendomysium antibodies. His intestinal biopsy showed sub total villous atrophy, consistent with celiac disease. Conclusions: Th e prevalence of celiac disease iz these diabetic children is 1:67(1.5% ). Similar figures have been reported elsewhere.